Shoutout to White Sox starting pitcher Mike Clevinger for giving the Cubs offense a big confidence boost heading into Opening Day.
The Cubs jumped all over the right-handed pitcher in Monday’s spring training game at Sloan Park, chasing Clevinger out of the game in the first inning after he was only able to record one out and was charged with four earned runs. Clevinger came back out to begin the second inning, but once again he couldn’t end the frame without allowing some damage.
Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson drilled the first pitch of his second at-bat and deposited Clevinger’s fastball over the wall in left-center field.
That was Swanson’s second home run in the last two games. The big free agent signing for the Cubs has had a brutal spring training overall, but it’s at least encouraging to see Swanson tap into his power and start to look better with Opening Day right around the corner.
🔥 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel to hear Chicago legends tell stories you’ve never seen in headlines — real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.
The Cubs offense ended up with seven hits and two walks against Clevinger in 4.1 innings, including a couple more extra base hits from Eric Hosmer and Edwin Rios, who both doubled. Clevinger’s fastball was getting hit hard and frequently.
On the other side, Jameson Taillon was filthy against the White Sox lineup. The veteran right-hander struck out five and only gave up two hits in five shutout innings. The breaking balls from Taillon were in midseason form on Monday in his final spring training tune up.
While Taillon may not have been the flashiest starting pitcher that was signed in free agency, the Cubs are still expecting big things from him. We shouldn’t be surprised whatsoever if Taillon ends up leading the starting rotation in starts and innings pitched in 2023.
You have to love how Taillon attacks the strike zone and hopefully the new sweeping slider will help raise his strikeout rate and avoid fewer hits against him. Taillon wrapped up spring training action with 23 strikeouts and no walks allowed in 18.1 innings during his five starts to get ready for the regular season.
Roster News
The Cubs are almost done finalizing their Opening Day 26-man roster and on Monday the team announced a series of moves.
- Right-handed hitting catcher Luis Torrens is on the Opening Day roster
- Left-handed hitting utility man Miles Mastrobuoni is on the Opening Day roster
- Christopher Morel will begin the season at Triple-A Iowa
- Javier Assad made the team and will be in the bullpen
- Michael Rucker made the team and will be in the bullpen
- Outfielder Mike Tauchman was reassigned to minor league camp
- Left-handed hitting infielder Zach McKinstry was traded to the Tigers
You can read more about today’s roster news in the links below.
Luis Torrens a surprise on the Opening Day roster.
Javier Assad and Michael Rucker added to bullpen.
Zach McKinstry traded to Tigers.
Decision to send Christopher Morel to Triple-A.
